Program/Event
Undergraduate Research Showcase Spring 2024
Abstract
Green spaces is a crucial component of our environment, and a contributor to relieving stress in human and wildlife health. Stress is one of the causing factors for a shorter lifespan in humans and other animals by directly accelerating the shortening length of the telomeres in our DNA. In this study we investigated to what extent urban vegetation explain telomere length in the American Robins Turdus migratorius living in the Louisville area. Specifically, we predicted that lower amount of vegetation will be associated with shorter telomeres. We caught the birds using mist nets, we collected blood samples, extracted DNA, and used qPCR to assess telomere length. Greenness was assessed using LIDAR and satellite imaging. We used the Green Heart Louisville LIDAR-derived leaf area index (LAI) as an estimate of total leaf area, and satellite-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to assess overall greenness. In this presentation, we will report on the relationship between telomeres and urban greenness.
Recommended Citation
Rodriguez-Munoz, Valentina; Mittlestat, Elise; and Abolins-Abols, Mikus
(2024)
"Greenspace variation and its effect on telomere length in the American Robin DNA,"
The Cardinal Edge: Vol. 2:
Iss.
2, Article 43.
Available at:
https://ir.library.louisville.edu/tce/vol2/iss2/43
